Local 'Officers of the Year' honored

The Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa recognized several local law enforcement officers at its annual Law Enforcement Officers of the Year banquet at Indian Hills Country Club on Feb. 13. From left, Officer Ron Kirkland, University of Alabama Police; Officer Drew Clements, Tuscaloosa Police; Sgt. Kenny Shipman, Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office; Attorney General Luther Strange; Trooper Brett Christian, Tuscaloosa Post, Alabama Dept. of Public Safety; Officer Cody Sullivan, Northport Police; and Ken Swindle, former Tuscaloosa police chief and law enforcement program chair.

Submitted photo

By Stephanie TaylorStaff Writer | The Tuscaloosa News

Published: Monday, February 24, 2014 at 11:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 12:13 a.m.

The Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa recognized several local law enforcement officers at its annual Law Enforcement Officers of the Year banquet at Indian Hills Country Club on Feb. 13. Honored were:

-- Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Kenny Shipman, who has worked several assignments since joining the Sheriff's Office in 1992. He worked as a guard and a supervisor at the Tuscaloosa County Jail, a crime scene investigator and now works as a patrol supervisor. “He acts as a mentor, both professionally and personally, to younger deputies under his command,” Sheriff Billy Sharp wrote.

“Not only has his shift been successful, but under his leadership (it) leads the office statistically in many areas.”

-- Northport Police Officer Cody Sullivan is a field training officer who has worked for the department for two years. Chief Kerry Card noted Sullivan's work during a recent investigation of a robbery in which a man held up a store at gunpoint and escaped with money and merchandise.

“Officers responded, processed the scene and searched for the suspect,” Card wrote. “After other officers had cleared up from the scene, Officer Sullivan's instincts and training would not allow him to leave and give up. He, along with his trainee, continued to canvass the area and look for the suspect. His perseverance proved him well as they eventually located the suspect as he crossed the street and ran into the woods near a neighborhood.”

-- University of Alabama Police Officer Ron Kirkland joined UAPD in December 2012 after working as a Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's deputy and a paramedic with Northstar Paramedic Services. Chief Tim Summerlin cited Kirkland's role in the arrest of two dangerous robbery suspects on different occasions. He pursued and arrested a man who was trespassing at the residence of an ex-girlfriend who had obtained a restraining order. “His effective response very likely prevented a domestic violence incident between the suspect and his former girlfriend,” Summerlin wrote. “He consistently demonstrates superior work habits and strives to perform his duties in a manner that exemplifies professionalism.”

-- Alabama State Trooper Brett Christian has worked for the department since 2008. He routinely performs above the average set by most of his peers, wrote Tuscaloosa post commander Sgt. Frank Hennigan wrote.

Christian wrote 568 tickets for moving violations in 2013, 107 for non-moving violations, issued 536 warnings and investigated 60 crashes. In December, Christian stopped a vehicle on U.S. Highway 82 in Pickens County and located two pistols, five ounces of marijuana, 877 bags of synthetic marijuana and more than $300 in cash, Hennigan wrote. He is a member of the department's special operations team and is a traffic homicide investigator.

“Trooper Christian has an excellent work ethic, is self-motivated and is doing his part to improve highway safety and save lives,” Hennigan wrote.

-- Tuscaloosa Police Officer Drew Clements has been with the department since 2008 and works as a traffic officer on the evening patrol shift. He handles a high volume of calls, Police Chief Steven Anderson wrote. Clements filed the sixth highest number of reports with the state's E-crash reporting system, with the top five being state troopers.

“Officer Clements always presents a professional and confident demeanor an command presence,” Anderson wrote. “He has several letters of appreciation in his file from citizens who have wanted us to know what a professional job he does at accident scenes. He is truly an asset to the Tuscaloosa Police Department.”

The officers were nominated by their departments and received a plaque presented by Attorney General Luther Strange, who spoke at the luncheon.

<p>The Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa recognized several local law enforcement officers at its annual Law Enforcement Officers of the Year banquet at Indian Hills Country Club on Feb. 13. Honored were:</p><p>-- Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Kenny Shipman, who has worked several assignments since joining the Sheriff's Office in 1992. He worked as a guard and a supervisor at the Tuscaloosa County Jail, a crime scene investigator and now works as a patrol supervisor. “He acts as a mentor, both professionally and personally, to younger deputies under his command,” Sheriff Billy Sharp wrote. </p><p>“Not only has his shift been successful, but under his leadership (it) leads the office statistically in many areas.”</p><p>Sharp added: “When describing Sgt. Kenny Shipman, you would certainly use words like honest, dependable, patient and loyal.”</p><p>-- Northport Police Officer Cody Sullivan is a field training officer who has worked for the department for two years. Chief Kerry Card noted Sullivan's work during a recent investigation of a robbery in which a man held up a store at gunpoint and escaped with money and merchandise.</p><p>“Officers responded, processed the scene and searched for the suspect,” Card wrote. “After other officers had cleared up from the scene, Officer Sullivan's instincts and training would not allow him to leave and give up. He, along with his trainee, continued to canvass the area and look for the suspect. His perseverance proved him well as they eventually located the suspect as he crossed the street and ran into the woods near a neighborhood.”</p><p>-- University of Alabama Police Officer Ron Kirkland joined UAPD in December 2012 after working as a Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's deputy and a paramedic with Northstar Paramedic Services. Chief Tim Summerlin cited Kirkland's role in the arrest of two dangerous robbery suspects on different occasions. He pursued and arrested a man who was trespassing at the residence of an ex-girlfriend who had obtained a restraining order. “His effective response very likely prevented a domestic violence incident between the suspect and his former girlfriend,” Summerlin wrote. “He consistently demonstrates superior work habits and strives to perform his duties in a manner that exemplifies professionalism.”</p><p>-- Alabama State Trooper Brett Christian has worked for the department since 2008. He routinely performs above the average set by most of his peers, wrote Tuscaloosa post commander Sgt. Frank Hennigan wrote. </p><p>Christian wrote 568 tickets for moving violations in 2013, 107 for non-moving violations, issued 536 warnings and investigated 60 crashes. In December, Christian stopped a vehicle on U.S. Highway 82 in Pickens County and located two pistols, five ounces of marijuana, 877 bags of synthetic marijuana and more than $300 in cash, Hennigan wrote. He is a member of the department's special operations team and is a traffic homicide investigator.</p><p> “Trooper Christian has an excellent work ethic, is self-motivated and is doing his part to improve highway safety and save lives,” Hennigan wrote.</p><p>-- Tuscaloosa Police Officer Drew Clements has been with the department since 2008 and works as a traffic officer on the evening patrol shift. He handles a high volume of calls, Police Chief Steven Anderson wrote. Clements filed the sixth highest number of reports with the state's E-crash reporting system, with the top five being state troopers.</p><p> “Officer Clements always presents a professional and confident demeanor an command presence,” Anderson wrote. “He has several letters of appreciation in his file from citizens who have wanted us to know what a professional job he does at accident scenes. He is truly an asset to the Tuscaloosa Police Department.”</p><p> The officers were nominated by their departments and received a plaque presented by Attorney General Luther Strange, who spoke at the luncheon.</p><p>The officers were nominated by their departments.</p><p> </p><p>Reach Stephanie Taylor at stephanie.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0210.</p>